Page 65 of The Aurora Marelup Complete Saga Omnibus

“Time to reign in blood, boys.” I start humming the songHeathensby Twenty One Pilots. Oddly enough, my song choice is quite fitting as I start walking in the line-up’s third position.

My group moves as a single unit down the hallway, passing Ellis and his bears. I maintain my resting bitch face as I move. My steps are silent and calculated; the only sound from me is the soft humming of my chosen song en route to the pulpit. My group arrives at the double doors of the throne room. The steward is waiting to receive word that it’s time to send us in. It’s so quiet that you can hear the opening prayer in the throne room. We hear three knocks, and the steward opens the double doors.It’s show time, I say through the bond to those who canhear me just before our group enters, walking in time with the music.

Whispers erupt throughout the throne room. Most are commenting on how much I look like Anca or that the Lycan Queen still lives. King Bane is the most shocked at my appearance—the blood-red lipstick was apparently my mother’s signature color.

Once we’re at the pulpit, I gracefully curtsey to King Bane and Queen Katherine. Next, I turn to Alaric and lower my head submissively to him, playing the role I’m in perfectly. Alaric reaches out and places his hand under my chin, allowing me to raise my gaze.

King Bane’s ego gets the better of him as he moves to inspect me. He grips my jaw tightly and examines my eyes and then my teeth like I’m some sort of broodmare. Bane quickly raises the right sleeve of my gown to reveal my royal brand. Bane raises my arm for the entire throne room to see.

“Aurora is Anca’s heir!” Bane shouts to the gathered dignitaries. My mates can easily feel the aggravation through the bond.

Alaric does the only thing he knows to calm me and rubs my scale, acting like his shirt is bothering him. That thoughtful action soothes me, and I calm down, remaining in Bane’s grip. “My son has chosen wisely for this political alliance. This bitch will birth powerful sons,” Bane speaks with such detachment, it’s unbelievable. It’s getting harder for the guys to maintain their silence as the king practically bashes and degrades me in front of them. I flood the bond with how much I love them trying to ease their concern. Bane finally releases me into Alaric’s hands, and I instantly calm down. Now, the friar raises his hands and begins the ceremony.

“Lords and Ladies, we have before us tonight, on the Night of the Wolf, two powerful bloodlines. Though it is a politicalmarriage, we pray for their love to eventually grow. We ask the Elder Gods for strength and fertility. That Anca’s heir produces strong sons, who will be able to ascend the Ice Dragon and Marelup Throne.” The friar takes out a piece of red silk and lightly binds Alaric’s and my hands together.

“This sash represents the blood that shall be shared between bloodlines when the first heir is born.” Next, a silver sash is wrapped around our hands. “The silver represents the prince’s dragon’s sight. May he always see the best solutions in the future.” The friar places his hand on top of mine and Alaric’s hands. “If anyone present has any reason these two should not be bound, speak now or forever hold your peace.” The friar looks around the hall at all the attendants. He didn’t, however, look to his left at my witnesses.

The guys move as one and rip off their cloaks and flinging them aside. Before their cloaks hit the floor, I reach up and rip off my black wig; my long, snow-white hair cascades down my back. In an instant, Alaric and I shift our arms, so our gauntlets and talons are at the ready. Nicodeamus steps forward with Dimitri at his side.

“I am Nicodeamus, mate to Anca Marelup and the true Ice Dragon King!” My group and I stand at the ready for the battle ahead.

CHAPTER 54

Prologue Fight

AURORA

Ice Dragon Chalet

Night of the Wolf , November 30, 2019

The guys move as one and rip off their cloaks, flinging them aside. Before their cloaks hit the floor, I reach up and rip off the black wig I’m wearing; my long, snow-white hair cascades down my back. In an instant, Alaric and I shift our arms so that our gauntlets and talons are at the ready. Nicodeamus steps forward with Dimitri at his side.

“I am Nicodeamus, mate to Anca Marelup and the true Ice Dragon King!” Chaos erupts after Nicodeamus’s declaration.

Some begin to run, trying to escape, while others drop to their knees. Alaric and I turn as one to face Bane. Carefully, I point to Alaric’s scale upon my chest. An arrogant smirk plays upon my lips as I lock eyes with Bane.

“False King,” I growl as my eyes churn liquid mercury. The dragonic slits slowly expand and contract as I stare him down. The eerie sound of Alaric and I clicking our talons together silences the hall. Our movements are mirror images of each other as we circle Bane, isolating him from the others.

“I had nothing to do with the death of your mother!” Bane shouts as his back hits the wall. A look of panic crosses his features when he realizes he can’t call upon his animal.

“Nasty little thing, Dire Wolf venom is. Mixed with a second toxin, it suppresses the ability to shift.” Alaric smirks, looking at his father. “Funny thing happened before the ball. Aurora and I consummated our bond. I tasted her blood and marked her as mine. Thankfully for me, her mate Jayce gave her immunity to the toxin.” Alaric’s temper is legendary, and now everyone is witnessing it firsthand. “I find it funny that the man who said we must protect our own left his king unguarded. Treason really doesn’t look good on you, Father.” Alaric shakes his head side to side before he moves to stand beside me; he kisses the crown of my head as we stare his father down.

Bane still searches the room for an ally, but none will stand with him. Bane grits his teeth then spits towards Nicodeamus. “Vladimir suspected you fucked that bitch of a mate of his. The blood magic could only do so much. It was good that Anca died because of that abomination!” He jabs his finger in my direction, and I can’t help but laugh at him. “The half-breed finds it funny she killed her mother! Wait till her mate informs his uncle about you living, Nicodeamus. He will hunt you down!”

Alaric rips his father away from the wall and holds his arms firmly behind him as Nicodeamus moves forward. “I had a feeling that bastard lived. Why else would I be kept barely alive in a dungeon, held prisoner by Lucian?” I move to my father’s left side, protecting it.

“The pieces are all falling into place now. The Elder dame and Elena were both sisters to Vladimir.” Nicodeamus strokes his chin as he connects the dots. “Aurora’s animal, though quite young, imprinted on Sebastian’s scent, making it easy for the magic to work. After all, he was one of the first wolves she had come in contact with. Imprinting is a dragon trait, so it was agamble if it would work.” Nicodeamus’s eyes fall upon me and then over to my mate, Alaric. “Daughter, I need your talons and your rage. If my people were with me the night of the attack, there would have been a better chance that your mother would have lived.”

Nicodeamus’s grief is almost all-consuming until I shift to the form of my beast. The entire room falls silent as I loom over Bane, baring my canines as I look at him. The thick yellow-green venom drips from my upper canines as I lean forward and roar in Bane’s face.

“I promised my father’s head and heart would be yours, my love. Take them as a gift,” Alaric states coldly, his voice devoid of any emotion. With a single twist of his body, he hurls his father out and into the crowd. Apparently, Alaric has been paying attention; my beast likes the thrill of the hunt more than just fighting.

“Alaric, no!” Bane shouts as he flies through the air. His body hits the marble floor hard as he rolls to a stop. Bane panics: he can’t summon his dragon to help save his ass. Stories are already being whispered by my pack about how I took down Nexus by myself. Bane looks now to Katherine, tears freely flowing down her cheeks as she looks to her husband on the floor.

“Katherine! Save me! Shift and burn them to the ground!” Bane’s last attempt at being rescued falls on deaf ears. Katherine shakes her head as I loom over Bane.

“Husband, you knowingly allowed our king to face the horde alone. His mate died because of you and your poor choices. How can I be a loyal servant of the crown and allow your deeds to go unpunished?” Katherine looks at her husband, the sadness visible behind her eyes. Slowly, Katherine moves to my side and lightly touches my beast’s back. “Do what you must, child. Vengeance is yours.” Katherine bows to me and leaves the grand ballroom swiftly.

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